Regulator



W. P. POWERS.-

REGULATOR.

APPLICATION man APR. lo. |920.

Amma y 'Patenteasept 26,1922.

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REGULATOR.'

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1o, 1920.

Patefed Sept. 216, 1922.

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Application filed Aprillo, 1920. Serial No. 872,897.

To all whom tmaq/ concern."

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. Pownns, a citizen ofythe 'United States, and resident of `Los An cles, in the county of .Los Angeles and tate of California, havev invented certain new and useful Improvements .in a Regulator, of which theI following 1sv a specification.

My invention relates to thermostatic controlling devices and iarticularly to a novel unitary controller adapted for gas heated water storage systems.

Une of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a simple unitary device'adapted for the control of the supply of gas for heating Water or other liquids. ln this construction l provide means whereby the thermostatic element consists of a connected rigid tube and a diaphragm, the tube being mounted vertically wlthin a socket or recess located in the )ath of move ment of a body of thel liquid. The diaphragm is located outside of the area under i `the'direct action of the heated liquid. rThis secures several advantages, one ot' the most important of which is that the thermostat is differential in its operation; that is, as the thermo-sensitive liquid becomes volatilized the quantity theremc is lessened and therefore the amount subjected to the direct heat of the liquid is correspondingly lessened. ln view ot the method of mounting the thcrmostatic element with the rigid tube in a vertical position and the iaphragm. beneath the same, the diaphragm is always filled with the liquid whereas the amount within the tube varies in acordance with the heatin r conditions.

A. further a( vantage is that a thermostatic element so constructed and mounted may readily be removed for inspection or renewal Without interference with the casing Within which it is placed.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein, i Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a water heating appliance constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the thermostatic heat-regulating element;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view .taken at right angles to thatof Figure 2; 'and ig.`4. is a sectional view on the line 4-4 Of Fig. 2.

In the assembly shown in Fig. 1, and which may be of any approved form, I provide a tank 10 having a bottom wall 11 and a skirt 12 within which the heating and regulating appliances are mounted. Water 1s supplied through a pipe 13 and discharged through a pipe 14. A. pipe 15 communi cates with the lower portlon of the tank 10 vand is in communication with a T 16, a pipe 17 containing a fiame spreader 18 beinf connected with one branch of the T.

A pipe 19 is connected to the spreader and the tank a circulating system.

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The gas is supplied through a pipe 21, v

and is directed through the regulator to a burner 22 mounted beneath the dame spreader, a by-pass 23 providing a pilot light in the usual manner.

The regulating unit, best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a casing composed of two parts 24, 25, joined b means ot bolts 26. 'Ihe lower part provi es for pipe connections at V27, 28 for the gas supply, the passage of gas from the supply to the burner being controlled by a valve 29 which may be composed of leather or brass and is adapted to be seated on the removable seat member 30. The valve 29 is secured to a flat spring 31, the ends of which are rebent and secured to the casing. rthis spring is of suiiicient strength to retain the valve awa from. 'its seat under normal conditions. bolt .32 serves the purpose of joining the valve member 29, the sp1-in 31, a spacin disc 33 and a short relie spring 34. lie latter bears at its ends against a regulating spring 35, the respective ends `of which engage adjustin f screws 36, the heads of which are locate( exteriorlyr of the casing.

The upper portion 24 of the casin is constructed to provide a threaded ho low boss or tube 37, the threaded portion of which is adapted to engage with theT 16, the tubular portion projecting axially into the passa e-within the T or casing 16, the

1s in the form of double diaphragms, the

space between which is in communication Iwith the tube or container 39. A thermostatic liquid which vaporizes or volatilizes at the requisite temperature is confined within the thermostatic element.

In operation the water which circulates through the pipes which constitute the system is caused to pass in Contact with the tube 3,7 which contains the thermostatic tube 39 and the temperature of the liquid is transmitted to the thermostat. As the temperature rises a portion of' the thermostatic liquid vaporizes and the diaphragm 40 is caused to expand thereby overcoming the force exerted by the springs 35, 3l and moving the valve 29 towards its seat, thus serving to restrict or entirely shut off the supply of gas to the burner. The relief spring 34 Ais of such strength that it is normally unaffected by the movement of the diaphragm but in the event of' excesive pressure within the diaphragm it permits the expansion thereof after the valve 29 has been seated. The resistance offered by the springs may be regulated b v means ot the screws 36.

It will be seen that the thermostatic element is so arranged that it may readily be inserted or removed, it being only necessary to disengage the lower portion 25 of' the casing; and the simplicity and compactness of the device make it desirable and useful as will readily be appreciated by those familiar with such constructions. The arrangement of the thermostat in a vertical position provides for a differential control, in that as the thermostatic liquid is vaporized the quantity-thereof is reduced and the area exposed to the heat is lessened. The walls of the tubular member 37 will be relatively thin and heat will be-quickly transmitted by conduction to the rigid container 39.

Obviously the construction is capable of considerable modification and I do not Wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a regulator, the combination of a casing having a passage for water, a ther-A mostatic element having a portion projecting into said passa e, said element including a flexible end wal in the form of a diaphragm, a second casing having gas inlet and outlet openin s and providing a space within which the eXible wall of said thermostatic element is located, a valve adapted to cooperate with one of said openings, a resilient valve-carrying member ada ted normally to maintain the valve away rom its seat, and adjustable spring means interposed between said resilient valve-carrying member and said thermostatic element.

2. In a regulator, the combination of a casing having a passage for water, a thermostatic element having a portion projecting into said passage, sald element including a flexible end wall in the form of a diaphragm, a second casing having gas inlet and outlet openings and providing a space within which the flexible Wall of said thermostatic element is located, a valve adapted to cooperate with one of 'said openings, a resilient valve-carrying member adapted normally to maintain the valve away from its seat, a leaf spring interposed between the thermostatic element and said valvecarrying member, and means engaging an end of said leaf spring for adjusting the same.

3. In a regulating device, the combination of means providing a passage for heated water, a`thermostat1c element having a portion located in position to be affected by the temperature of the water, said thermostatic element including a diaphragm a casing having inlet and outlet passages for a water heating medium, said thermostatic element bein located within said casing, a valve frying one of said openings, a leaf spring on which said valve is mounted, said spring being adapted to maintain the valve away from its seat, and spring means interposed between the thermostatic diaphragm and said valve member.

Signed at Los Angeles, this eighteenth day of February, 1920.

WILLIAM P. POWERS.

Witness:

HAL CooKRAN. 

